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vitamin E

BASIC LIFESTYLE CHANGES DRAMATICALLY REDUCE CARDIOVASCULAR BURDEN – (11-17-08)

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Angina Pectoris and Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program

In 12 wks, 74% of patients in this study that started with angina were angina free. 74%. These are all patients who likely would’ve had cardiac catheterization and stent placement. Many of these patients would then go on to open heart bypass surgery.

Again and again we see studies proving that basic lifestyle changes dramatically reduce cardiovascular burden. And we’re not talking about taking Vit E and checking for heart attacks in 4 years. We’re talking about lifestyle changes that include multiple plant-based dietary changes, exercise, non-smoking and stress management. And these changes will have impacts across other disease states as well, unlike cardiovascular procedures and medications.

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USE OF STATINS INCREASES CIRCULATING LEVELS OF VIT E (02-23-09)

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Early decrease of oxidative stress by atorvastatin in hypercholesterolaemic patients: effect on circulating vitamin E

Homage to the use of statins for preventing heart disease continues. But research suggests that their protective effect (as questionable as that is) comes not from their ability to lower cholesterol, but likely from some type of antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effect.

This study finds that the use of statins increases circulating levels of Vit E, hinting that statins may have some type of antioxidant effects. However, this can be looked at another way. What if the use of statins increases Vit E levels, and this increase in Vit E levels is one of the ways that the risk of heart disease is lowered? Wouldn’t that be a hoot? The pharmaceutical companies would hate to have their $100 / month drug replaced with $10 of Vit E.

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RESPONSE TO VARYING DOSAGES OF VITAMIN E PLUS VITAMIN C

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Finally!!  Someone gets it!! It’s funny how many studies receive very little press from a functional medicine, nutritional supplementation standpoint.  And yet, when the results are negative, such as recent studies on Vit E and heart disease, it seems that every doctor began telling their patients to stop taking Vit E.

Unfortunately, these studies were poorly designed and used just the alpha form, despite the fact that the gamma form of Vit E is naturally occurring and has much stronger cardioprotective benefits.  Add to this that high levels of the “typical” Vit E as the alpha form actually LOWERS the gamma form in the bloodstream and you can see where the problem was.

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IS YOUR VITAMIN E CAUSING PROSTATE CANCER?

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As “beat up on vitamins” month continues, one of the current scares centers around the risk of prostate cancer and the use of vitamin E.  Several years ago concern was raised over vitamin E increasing the risk of heart attacks, so it’s nice to see that “they” have shifted their focus.  So, does vitamin E cause prostate cancer?

To answer, this, we first need some clarification.  When most people talk about Vit E (physicians included) most are referring to the alpha tocopherol version of Vit E.  However, Vit E actually has 8 forms (4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols).  Alpha tocopherol is what is present in almost all low quality Vit E supplements, and yet the gamma form of tocopherol is more common in nature and is a more potent antioxidant. 
 
The reason why the alpha form came to be used in all the supplements is that this was the compound that was found to allow rats to give live births (hence “tocos” meaning childbirth and “phero” meaning to bring).  If rats were having more babies, alpha tocopherol must be…an aphrodisiac!! 
 
Hence the dominate use of alpha tocopheral was born… Ironically, giving higher levels of the alpha form lowers levels of the gamma form in the bloodstream, making this the likely mechanism by which we saw the small increases in heart attacks in large Vit E supplementation trials.  Physicians who are unaware of how Vit E works have mistakenly told their patients to stop taking Vit E.  This is strongly incorrect.  The other forms of Vit E are potent antioxidants, and in other studies have shown that the other forms of Vit E are very protective of the brain in the case of seizures and migraines as well as heart disease and cancer.
 
In this particular study, researchers found a small (17%) increased risk of prostate cancer with the use of vitamin E.  However, there is quite a bit of sound research suggesting that gamma tocopherol protects against prostate cancer.  So, with the supplementation of alpha tocopherol lowering blood levels of gamma tocopherol, this relationship between “vitamin E” supplementation and prostate cancer may actually make sense.
 
What the article should conclude is that vitamin E as alpha tocopherol, lowers blood levels of gamma tocopherol and lowers the protection to the prostate, increasing prostate cancer risk.  Ok–so maybe that’ s a bit long for a title, but you get the point.
 
The bottom line is to not avoid Vit E, but this is definitely a vitamin worth spending the extra money on and make sure you’re buying a mixed tocopherol product.